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Council tax frozen for fourth year running in West Oxfordshire

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by Dan Robinson, Reporter covering Witney and West Oxfordshire. Call me on 01865 425483

WEST Oxfordshire District Council's share of council tax bills has been frozen for the fourth year running.

Residents living in average Band D properties will pay £81.63 per year for services provided by the district council.

The precept for 2014-15 was agreed at a full council meeting held last week to approve the authority's budget.

The council has the second lowest council tax of all 201 shire district councils in England and the lowest of all five district councils in Oxfordshire.

It has pledged to invest £1.6m in the rollout of rural superfast broadband. A county-wide project aims to get 90 per cent of homes and businesses access to high-speed broadband but the district council wants to achieve 100 coverage in West Oxfordshire.

Councillors agreed to set aside £277,850 - the same amount as the past three years - in grants for voluntary organisations, including the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Council leader Barry Norton said: “We have put together not only a balanced budget in another year of increased austerity in our public finances but also set out how we will finance our commitment to rural broadband, an initiative which we believe will have ongoing benefits for residents, businesses and our local economy in West Oxfordshire."

The council also promised to carry on providing free parking in 16 car parks and free garden waste collections for all householders.